Spiritual refining

Secondly, This Original Defilement doth first and more immediately corrupt the ¹nature of a man, and then mediately his person, Prius corrumpit naturam deinde personam. Hence it is, that our Children have their defilement, whereas our personal sins are not communicated to them. Hence also it is, that an Infant new born, before there be any sinful motions, or expressions of it, yet is corrupted in its Nature; though it speaks no evil, thinks no evil, loveth no evil, yet it is dead in sin, and a child of wrath. Now the grace of Regeneration doth more immediately tend to heal this natural corruption, and then secondarily personal corruptions. Not as if a Regenerated Father could beget a Regenerated Child always, for so grace is personal, but because it doth first renew and sanctify that principle and inward root of all affections and actions in us. It is disputed in the Schools, whether grace be first immediately subjected in the very Essence of the soul, or whether in the faculties and powers of it. But we need not be so Metaphysical and nice: This is enough to conclude, that grace doth first heal and renew the soul, as it is the principle of all our actions; and then when this Fountain is clean, the streams also are clean, when this root is sweet the fruit also is. This is the good tree, and the good treasure that our Saviour speaks of. We see in the works of Gods Creation and Providence, first he gives Creatures their Nature, their kind and being; then he commands them to increase and multiply. So its here, first God gives a supernatural life, renewed principles, and then our conversation is answerable. Now this can never be enough pressed upon men; they think by spiritual and godly actions to get spiritual nature; they think in Divinity as Aristotle teacheth in Morality, by doing virtuous actions, to acquire at last the habits of virtue; but the Scripture is otherwise; we must first be born again, wherein we are altogether passive, and thereby be enabled to walk holily. Oh therefore that men would consider these things, then would auditors be spiritual, when they once are lifted up to this inward supernatural life: you are but Weeds and Brambles, what Blossoms soever you have, till you thus be renewed.

Secondly, This Original Defilement doth first and more immediately corrupt the ¹nature of a man, and then mediately his person, Prius corrumpit naturam deinde personam. Hence it is, that our Children have their defilement, whereas our personall sinnes are not communicated to them. Hence also it is, that an Infant new born, before there be any sinfull motions, or expressions of it, yet is corrupted in its Nature; though it speaks no evill, thinks no evill, loveth no evill, yet it is dead in sin, and a child of wrath. Now the grace of Regeneration doth more immediately tend to heale this naturall corruption, and then secondarily personall corruptions. Not as if a Regenerated Father could beget a Regenerated Child alwayes, for so grace is personall, but because it doth first renew and sanctifie that principle and inward root of all affections and actions in us. It is disputed in the Schools, whether grace be first immediately subjected in the very Essence of the soul, or whether in the faculties and powers of it. But we need not be so Metaphysicall and nice: This is enough to conclude, that grace doth first heale and renew the soul, as it is the principle of all our actions; and then when this Fountain is clean, the streams also are clean, when this root is sweet the fruit also is. This is the good tree, and the good treasure that our Saviour speaks of. We see in the works of Gods Creation and Providence, first he gives Creatures their Nature, their kind and being; then he commands them to encrease and multiply. So its here, first God gives a supernaturall life, renewed principles, and then our conversation is answerable. Now this can never be enough pressed upon men; they think by spirituall and godly actions to get spirituall nature; they think in Divinity as Aristotle teacheth in Morality, by doing vertuous actions, to acquire at last the habits of vertue; but the Scripture is otherwise; we must first be born again, wherein we are altogether passive, and thereby be inabled to walk holily. Oh therefore that men would consider these things, then would auditors be spirituall, when they once are lifted up to this inward supernaturall life: you are but Weeds and Brambles, what Blossoms soever you have, till you thus be renewed.